Monday Confessions, Late Edition

Hello friends. I have been wanting to write all day but every time I would try to start, something would happen (and even the writing of this has been interrupted multiple times). I am being consistently reminded that life with a newborn is so inconsistent! I should also mention that I am running on very little sleep, so if anything is incoherent then you know why! I definitely didn't want to miss my chance to confess today, so here goes...

1. I confess that my family ate ice cream for dinner last night. We were swimming  and I just said "hey, who wants to go get ice cream for dinner?!" Dean replied with, "you're joking, right mom?" I wasn't kidding though. I heard a friend who did this once a summer and the kids always loved it. We went to Somerset Farm in Bear, DE and it was DELISH! (I did have the kids eat a bowl of cereal too when they got home because I didn't want them to starve). I think it's important to lighten up once in a while from the norm and do something fun! And hey, no one complained!

2. My sister in law got married on Saturday. It's one of those things that you hear about, plan and wait for but it comes and goes so quickly! It was fun to see the wedding through my kids eyes because they adored being a part of it all. They were even "playing wedding" the next day. For me it was a nice time to take a step back and see all that I have to be thankful for!

Congrats Ashley & Kenny, I know you're enjoying Barbados right now! (I am green with envy!)

I know that I am biased but these are beautiful children...

3. I confess that I just got my first large box of Pumpkin Spice K-Cups and actually drank the first one today! I know we are kicking off a heat wave here in the northeast but I am mentally ready for fall! 

4. If you haven't seen the new Jim Gaffigan show on TV Land, you're missing out. We watched the episodes last week and my husband laughed so hard he was in tears! It helps that we now have 4 kids so a lot of his family life jokes were hilarious to us. Do yourself a favor and watch it tonight! 

5. I confess we have been majorly touched by the generosity of friends recently. We have friends that are so good to us! Just today a friend stopped by on her way out of town to bless me with a hug, a hello and generous gift card for dinner out! How loved are we?! I am constantly reminded that we have some wonderful friends and we don't deserve all their goodness!!

6. Our extended family is at the beach this week in NC and I confess that I wish we were too. Don't get me wrong, we were invited but our kids start school this week! There's nothing we love more as a family than being beach bums for vacation! 

7. I finished up Jen Hatmaker's For the Love last week and I was sad when it was over! The topics meandered a bit but I enjoyed that. It was easy to pick up and put down. It had me laughing, it had me crying and other feelings in between.

It definitely drove home the point to me that my time with my kids in the house is limited and I want to make the most of it! I don't want to squander our time but I also don't want to pressure the heck out of myself to try to create some unrealistically magical childhood. It's important to let kids learn from life. I read the book with a pencil and I underlined so much! I think I could stand reading it again on a regular basis. I think a review of this book might merit it's own blog post another day! 

8. I have two FIRST GRADERS in the house!! How is that possible?! Come Wednesday morning I will be one part sappy crying and another part happy cheering them on! I do love embracing the next season for each kid as time rolls on past us! 

9. I confess that I think a part of parenthood is imparting your musical tastes or at least your musical knowledges on your kids. I got many a lesson on Eric Clapton in the back seat of a Bronco in my child hood. We know have been enjoying our kids picking up on different music that we listen to. I had to smile today as my kids were upstairs playing and I could hear Macy singing a Mumford and Sons song. It also makes me realize just how much the kids so easily absorb so I guess we better make sure it's good stuff! 

10. And just to round it out to ten...I confess that I am looking forward to pumpkin donut munchkins at Dunkin Donuts. Don't judge, they're delicious! 

Monday Confessions, Life with baby number 4

        Hey friends! We have made it through the first couple weeks of life with baby number four. It has had many delightful moments but also some trying ones. It has certainly been a transition period for all of us, but that being said, we ADORE Benjamin! He has already added so much to our family and we feel complete!

   I definitely have had some things to confess as I mull over the last couple weeks...

1.    I have become very aware of my own phone addiction. It's strange how only having an iPhone for couple years has become such a part of my daily life. It definitely has so many advantages but my eyes have been opened lately to how dependent I have become on it. Sometimes this reliance on my phone can be dangerous (like in the car) which I am majorly changing. Nothing is really worth it...cue the recent AT&T commercial with the mom wrecking the car posting a photo of her daughter. It also infiltrates our lives more than we know....when I have my 4 & 6 Year olds playing and I hear them saying "put that on Facebook" or "lets get on YouTube" - I know something needs to change. Do any of you do phone free hours or just check it at certain times? (I struggle with needing social media for business but I digress...)

2.    One thing we have been dealing with among our kids is learning to respect each others things. I think 99% of their altercations come about from the kids either taking, touching or fighting over things. I think that there are certain special things that the kids can control if others touch or not, but there are so many toys or things that are just community property as far as I am concerned. How do some of you deal with this among siblings? I am not all about refereeing the kids all the time but some good guidelines to help them to learn to respect each other and their things would be nice. 

3.    I have some favorite websites that I visit often, which I confess is sometimes more often than I should! One of these favorite websites though is 6pm.com. If you haven't already heard of this site, you need to go! It's all name brand items, sometimes last year's version (who cares?!) but it's always free shipping. The prices are usually great prices as well, especially on things like North Face or Under Armour. 

4. Matt and I celebrate our ninth anniversary this week! Really not sure how that's at all possible?!

From our honeymoon in Dominican Republic: (Were we ever that young and thin?!) 

5. I confess I love cooking shows, but I think I would love cooking even more too if someone else was doing all the dishes! Am I right?! Being home with the baby the last few weeks, I have logged too many hours on Food Network but it's getting me some ideas to cook for the fall. Mostly though, it just makes me hungry when watching and I have been bad at snacking! :( My current favorite shows are still Pioneer Woman and Trisha Yearwood. They both make recipes that I might actually be able to recreate! 

6. All this food talk leads me to my next confession, I am really wrestling with the post-baby body. This is nothing new for me and I mostly just preach to myself that healthy babies are TRULY miracles, so me having to lose some weight isn't the end of the world. I think I am maybe wrestling with unrealistic expectations. I thought that with being in better shape and having worked out into my last trimester, that I wouldn't have a big baby belly. Well friends, not so. The good news is though I am starting to clean up my eating (it's gotten way off track in survival mode) and I can't wait to be cleared for exercise again in September! Taking my own advice on this one and giving myself grace...but also making a plan!

7. I am going to be in a wedding in a few weekends and I am thinking over what to do with my hair. It's August so I am thinking of getting it up. Have any favorite up-do styles you love that I need to see?!

8. Anyone else bummed on all these celebrity couple divorce announcements? I was saddened by Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner but then TOTALLY shocked by Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale. People, you've been married over a decade...can't we work it out?! I realize that I know none of these people personally but it just seems sad that they've been married a good, long time and have kiddos involved. All I have to say is that if Faith & Tim ever announce a split..there's no hope!  (sarcastic but kind of true right?!) 

9. I am now booking photo sessions for fall!! It's my favorite season to photograph outdoors! Ok, I like all the different seasons but it's hard to beat autumn. I am running a special that includes your favorite 3 digital files with your photo session fee (if you book your session by August 31, session can happen any time between now and end of year). Contact me for availability, emily@emilytroutmanphoto.com

10. I am going to attempt to make some "clean treats" this afternoon to start back on track! (I didn't want to end on an odd number today :) Favorite clean treats?!

Have a great week my friends!! 

Monday Confessions, Baby Week!!

       Hello my internet friends, sorry I have been MIA the last couple Mondays. I had the very best intentions of blogging but you know how that can go. The good news is that I have been fitting in family, baby preparations and wrapping up photo sessions from this first half of summer in order to be ready for baby's arrival this Friday! Yes, I know…THIS FRIDAY. Not possible right?! I assure you it is and I am counting down. I am most certainly in that space of being aware of what is coming but also anxious to meet this little man. So what has been going on that I need to confess you ask?

1. I confess even at 9 months pregnant, I am not beyond flattery. At a friends baby shower last weekend her sweet cousin said to me, "Has anyone ever told you that you look like Malin Ackerman?" After I stopped laughing like a school girl, I thanked her for making my day! I will take that compliment and run with it for months…. Maybe it was just a really good hair day!

This is Malin…

And I currently look like this…haha…one of these is not like the other?! 

2. This leads me to my next confession though, I was NOT going to do any maternity photos this time around. It seems so crazy coming from a photographer right? Well I struggle with all the same things other mamas do about bodies and babies and image, etc. It was a sweet photographer friend, Christina Vance, that caught me at the right moment and I had a change of heart. Boy am I glad that I did have that change of heart or I would've missed out on getting some beautiful images of baby boy still in my belly! (I would also probably have to explain later to child number 4 why he had no photos like his brothers and sister!)  If you are in need of a maternity or newborn photographer in the next but while I am on maternity leave, please feel free to contact Christina and tell her I sent you! 

3. I confess that I cannot WAIT to get back into my fitness routine. The last 8 weeks have really prevented me from doing much other than taking care of my kiddos, house, work and some walking. I have literally been having dreams of running and burpees….I know, that might be cause for questioning my sanity. But if you know me, you know that exercise has become a form of sanity for me in recent years so I will behave myself and wait until I am cleared for exercise but you better believe when the time comes, I will be ready! I might huff and puff but I will be thankful for the body that allowed me to bring another life into the world and not beat myself up! One day at a time… (Shaun T's new CIZE program releases today! Let me know if you want in on the dance party!!)

4. Last week I heard a great quote, "your children are not your vanity project." I am sorry I already forget to give credit for that but it has really got me thinking. The author was saying that it's OK if kids want to go out in rain boots or mismatched clothing, they're kids! We do not need to extend our own vanity to them on a daily basis. This has been a bit freeing for me. I will obviously enforce mama's authority for certain venues or situations but if you see my kid running around in tall Batman socks when it's 90 degrees, please know that's because he chose them! 

5. My 3 kids are all swimming in the deep end without assistance!!! This is a big summer for us! It has been so exciting to watch them all blossom in the pool and just have a blast in general when it comes to swimming. Last week they started asking how to dive…we might need to find a swim team in their future!

6. I recently finished up reading Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies.  I enjoyed the read very much. It was easy to get into, and also to pick up and put down, which are essentials for me at this point. It was a sometimes funny insight into the world of kindergarten parents but also shined a bit of light on domestic violence. Domestic violence really can hide behind a variety of closed doors. 

7. We had a little special treat and got to escape to the beach this weekend to spend time together, as well as with some family and friends. I am so thankful that I feel like we have packed in so much this summer together as a family! Is there anything better than reading a book in a chair while your kids happily play?! The hubby caught a shark though…and I REALLY don't know how I feel about that?! Where was it's big mama shark?!!!

8. This morning's verse in my devotional, Savor, had perfect timing! "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 I might find myself clinging to that truth a lot in the weeks to come! 

Well my friends, it might be a few weeks before you hear from me on the blog but please follow on Instagram or Facebook to hear baby updates or momentary insanity confessions :) Say a prayer for us for our delivery on Friday morning!

Sweet Summertime

    It's been a whirlwind of a summer already and I am ALWAYS excited when a family contacts me to inquire about getting a photo session. Liz dropped me a note one morning and said, "I was interested in getting our family pictures taken. Just the 5 of us. Didn't think [the place] at the mall could capture some moments like you could." I love this and take it to heart. When a family contacts me to get photos, it's not just for the pretty pictures, but to truly capture the family as they are in this season of their lives! 

   I mean, have you seen any cuter boys?! I think that Liz & Pete will have to unhook their phone from the wall in their teenage years!! Thankful for a pretty summer morning that worked out to get this session in! 

I love this sweetness of a mama with her boys…

This kiddo is all adventure…

See what I mean about these boys all together? So adorable!!

Love the cheekiness here…it's showing that personality!

Beautiful June Wedding, White Clay Creek Country Club

     You truly never know what life will throw at you and being a wedding photographer, my life (especially my summers) can be planned a year in advance due to wedding season. Imagine my surprise last fall when I found out I was expecting a baby in mid-summer and had to think through how I could work my weddings! Thankfully the dates have worked out and I have had amazing couples to work with. This early June wedding was an absolutely beautiful day! Although the wedding took place exactly one mile from the Beau Biden funeral services, there were none of the snags we anticipated!

    Ashley & Ryan have such a fun and natural chemistry together. I enjoyed capturing their day and being with their family and guests! Enjoy these selected images from their big day!

Ceremony: St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Wilmington, DE

Reception: White Clay Creek Country Club, Newark, DE

The Power of Kind Words

     I have been giving some thought lately on all the information we are bombarded with on a daily basis. We are constantly being told things and shown things, both in our daily interactions with family as well as media input. I don't need to even start to think of how social media impacts us (I am sure entire books are being written on this subject). The news has been so hard to swallow lately, with all sorts of horrible things happening as well as just societal changes constantly taking place. I understand that we cannot live in a world of consistent comfort or complacency, because we would never move forward.

It's in these times though that I realize the absolute power and beauty in KIND words. Kind words can change your day and even your life over the long run. As a photographer, we are usually quick to only hear critiques of our work or pricing, etc from people. In general, it can be daunting to run a business and deal with keeping clients happy. In the midst of wedding season, I just got a beautiful note from a bride who was celebrating her first anniversary. I share this not as a prideful thing, but as an encouragement. When you have something nice to tell someone else, you should!

Here's what my bride had to say, "Just a note as we come close to our one year anniversary to say how much I appreciate your attention to detail. We are at a wedding where the photographer took 1 picture of every moment THATS IT! Never met a wedding photographer who got it perfect shot the first time every time." 

Humbly I admit, I definitely don't always get it perfect every time but I am glad she saw it this way! As a business owner, there's nothing I can do better than to make my clients happy and hope that they will refer me to others. I have learned countless things after over 10 years in business and mostly I beat myself up when I realize I could be doing it differently…better…or compare too much to others. It can be hard to keep going, but then you get a note like this. These kind words remind me of why I do what I do. I captured a wedding day for ONE couple that will never forget it!

If you didn't catch this on Facebook, here's what I am working on this week…

Monday Confessions

Do you ever hear yourself keep saying the same things over and over? I am totally guilty of this lately. What am I saying, you ask? Here's a couple….

1. "There is only one of me and three (soon to be four) of you." Totally guilty of saying this to my kids regularly!

2. "I can only do one thing at a time." This is also a mantra I say to my kids and try to tell myself! 

3. "I am tired."

4. "I am hungry."

5. "I have to go to the bathroom." (These last 3 are symptoms mostly of pregnancy :) 

6. What I am reading….I just finished Rescue by Anita Shrieve. It was "eh" so I don't necessarily recommend it but it was easy to pick up and put down, which is what I needed with the beach and traveling. 

7. True story: I am intimidated by first grade. Any other mamas feel like this? We have already begun summer work and I hear first grade is a big leap with the work load. I am trying to pace out the summer work for the twins so that I don't have a 4 week old and trying to do a summer's worth of items the week before school starts! 

8. I am 34 weeks pregnant today so I am done shooting weddings for the season (I do still have openings in the fall if you know anyone on a shorter engagement or still looking for a photographer ;) emily@emilytroutmanphoto.com )  If you missed this sneak peek, it's from last week's wedding! 

I will leave you with this verse from my devotional yesterday, it was perfectly timed for me. Have a great week!

"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." Jeremiah 31:25

Summer sunset maternity

     In this season of my own pregnancy, it has been fun to connect with other friends going through the same. My friend Liz is due just a few weeks after me, also with a little boy! It's been fun to text about symptoms, confess eating a bag of chips (yes I have done that recently!!!) or just see how each other is holding up. I was honored to take a few minutes last weekend with this beautiful couple and capture the pregnancy with their first child! Every child and pregnancy has its own story to tell, but especially with your first it's a sweet time to document. We were SO excited when the weather cleared and we caught the tail end of the sunset… enjoy! Oh, and the sweet puppy in the photos is Marley :) She's a part of the family too!

Monday Confessions, Memorial Day Style

     Hope this morning finds you waking up maybe a few minutes later than normal and smiling because you have a day with family ahead. I am smiling for all those reasons and the fact that my non-coffee drinking husband has learned to MAKE ME COFFEE and even brought it to me in bed this morning! My 5 year old said, "Mom it's not even Mother's Day and daddy made you coffee!" It was also like a Christmas miracle that 2 of my 3 kiddos were still asleep as of 8am! It's the small things my friends.

I realize that extra family time is a glorious thing but I am reminded of the reason we celebrate this very holiday in the first place, because some gave up their lives to serve and protect. The holiday was declared in 1866 originally to celebrate those who gave their lives in the Civil War. It was later changed to a federal holiday to honor all of those giving their lives in service in the armed forces. 

Here are some approximate numbers of casualties in America's wars (not counting Revolutionary):  

Civil War: Approximately 620,000 Americans died. The Union lost almost 365,000 troops and the Confederacy about 260,000. More than half of these deaths were caused by disease.

World War I: 116,516 Americans died, more than half from disease.

World War II: 405,399 Americans died.

Korean War: 36,574 Americans died.

Vietnam Conflict: 58,220 Americans died. More than 47,000 Americans were killed in action and nearly 11,000 died of other causes.

Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm: 148 U.S. battle deaths and 145 non-battle deaths.

Operation Iraqi Freedom: 4,422 U.S. service members died.

Operation New Dawn: 66 U.S. service members died.

Operation Enduring Freedom: 2,318 U.S. service members have died as of May 12, 2014.

(These facts from this article.)

        It's humbling to read these numbers and think about the lives. I am SO, SO thankful for our country and the military who represents us. Our church had the honor yesterday of hosting the Dover Airforce Base Honor Guard who came to present the flag. War veterans within the service were honored and it really puts a face to the sacrifice. 

   If you want to read a really good biography on a war hero, I have two different suggestions. I think they can only increase your respect and understanding of what a military personnel goes through. I would suggest either the story of WWII hero Lou Zamperini come to life in the book Unbroken, or the more recent story of sniper Chris Kyle in American Sniper. Both stories have also been recently on the big screen and available on video now too if you don't have time for a book. I HIGHLY recommend the books though, so much more introspection and detail, although some things are decidedly hard to read. 

I will leave you with these words from Abraham Lincoln, "That we were highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." 

Enjoy your Memorial Day 2015 and take a moment to thank a military personnel!

A beautiful spring engagement

    I love hearing the story of how couples meet. These two were no exception while sharing their story, they told me that they met on Halloween of all nights. They had no mutual friends in the crowd but happened to cross paths that evening. It was a classic boy meets girl, talk all evening and then wait a while (on the guy's part) to call! I like how Jason told it though, "Now three and a half years later, we've hardly been apart." We had fun on a beautiful spring day last weekend, capturing a little bit of them. I can't wait to photograph their wedding later this year in the same idyllic location. 

Here's to the spring weather sticking around and love blooming! (Pun intended my friends ;)

The H Family

   Of course I always love to photograph friends and their families, which is what I got to do last week with this session. They told me they hadn't had an updated family photograph in years! I get it, life passes us quickly, but friends please do yourselves a favor and aim for an annual family photo! I was thinking about this myself last night. Last November when we got our family photo taken, I had no idea that God was going to add to our family this summer! It's fun to think about having a visual history of the story of your family :) Anyhow, I digress.  How beautiful are these girls? Their dad was making jokes about keeping the shotgun cleaned! Ha!

Love this one, it was a "just for fun" because we all know it's probably a little more accurate :) 

Happy Friday Y'all!

Monday Confessions

            I confess that I am tired and it's only 2pm :) I am 27 weeks pregnant today, can you believe that? My due date was exactly 3 months from yesterday and it is hitting me! This baby boy is on his way in no time at all! We've been all over already today and god bless my sleeping preschooler! He fell asleep 2 minutes from home but thankfully is resting on the couch…hallelujah! 

1. I am SO GLAD that photography season is kicking back into gear! I got to photograph a beautiful small wedding vow exchange last week at Winterthur Gardens. It was still a bit chilly but the flowers were in bloom! Such a beautiful couple…

2. If you are interested in a spring photo session, contact me ASAP because I have select photography booking this month and then June is wedding season! emily@emilytroutmanphoto.com

3. I confess that this weekend was crazy and my only exercise was walking or chasing kids. This morning though I got myself in gear and did my T25! I feel better going through the day and I know I am investing in my long term healthy. I have to confess though it's probably not cute! :) Haha…push ups on my knees, I modify all the impact moves but I am still going! 

4. I confess that my eating is not perfect but I AM FAR better this pregnancy than any previous pregnancy so I am calling that a win. What were your craziest pregnancy cravings? 

5. We are into TBall season in full swing (pun intended :) My kiddos (& Hubby) are loving it and having fun!!

I hope you all have a wonderful week, I better put my feet up for 5 min before I go get the other kiddos from school. Carry on warriors…

Monday Confessions

   Hi friends, sorry for the couple week hiatus from blogging! We of course had Easter weekend and I can't even remember the week before that?! Last Monday was straight from heaven though, all 3 kids were off of school and it was warm and sunny! We enjoyed the ENTIRE day outside…I am talking picnic lunch and picnic dinner. We have suffered what feels like the longest winter ever in the North East and we have had it! The local park had no parking spots by 10am near the playground that day if that tells you anything at all….And today looks like a weather repeat of last week, so we are going to go get out there for a while! 

1. I confess I can't believe these are my big kids! Check out these crazy kids on Easter (still hard for me to believe they will be holding a little brother this time next year?! Outfits are mostly from Gymboree) 

2.  Speaking of these kids growing up, some days it really hits me a whole lot more than others. I see daily progress like loose teeth or being able to read words they couldn't before, but last week when I had a full on discussion with Dean about the style of Georgia O'Keefe I was a bit floored. These little babies that came from my belly are growing, blossoming humans who have feelings, dreams, and ideas. It's amazing and terrifying all at the same time!. 

3. A few years ago if you had told me that at 25 weeks pregnant, I would still faithfully be working out 3 to 4 times a week at minimum, I would have laughed in your face. I have to say, it feels good to be to the 25 week mark and staying active. We had an ultrasound last week and little man is progressing right along. (No we don't have any names yet, totally struggling in that department!) 

 4.  I just finished up a cute novel, City girl, Country Vet. For some reason I have been on a memoir kick and I thought  that this was another one, but I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't! It was a fun and easy read about the trials of a country veterinarian in the UK. It was a nice change of pace from the other non-fiction I have been reading. 

5. I confess I have been struggling with meals lately. I both aspire to cooking greatness but am usually so tired by the 5 o'clock hour that I am rendered useless. I did however find great success from trying a recipe from Shauna Niequist's Bread and Wine book. I did Annette's Enchiladas and these are a bit life changing people! Go  here for the recipe and bless your family!  (Or bless a friend :) Shauna writes that these were always welcomed by mamas with newborns or other friends in need of meals). They are layered and not rolled, so think more like a enchilada lasagna style!

6. Guys, I am in a TV drought. Not that I watch a ton of it, but I think endless hours of Food network or certain reality shows isn't really the best for me. Any great stories out there that you love? I am going to miss Downton Abbey after next season! Call the Midwife might start hitting too close to home if you know what I mean ;) What's a good show to check out? 

7. Word on the street, Wawa is doing free coffee all day this Thursday the 16th! If you live near one, it's worth stopping in for :) I also heard Panera is doing free coffee all month long with your rewards card!

8. I am turning into my mother … honestly it's probably in more ways than one but I am referring to my excitement over libraries and books. Being a mom of a young family, sometimes the biggest thrill of my week is getting an email from my library that a book I've been waiting for is now waiting for me :) I used to spend days off from work getting pedicures, thrift shopping, or just enjoying the freedom of young adulthood. Now that I am am mama, the free adventures that come in a library book are my little thrills in life. If I have a good book and throw in a good coffee, I honestly could be set for hours. And how is this turning into my mother you ask? She retired from her "big" career in the medical administration field and now adores working as a library assistant in her town!  (She even got the beaded string for her glasses but I will have to draw the line there for now…)

With beautiful weather yesterday, we spent the afternoon playing outside and just taking in family time! Here are some photos my lovely husband took of the kids… (And yes, that's chocolate on Dean's face from an after dinner Dilly bar :) Happy Monday! 

Monday Confessions

        Well last Monday was a total bust. I kid you not, I had almost an entire post written after about 45 minutes of work and the interwebs failed me. My post wasn't auto saving like usual and it vanished into cyber abyss. I get it, rookie mistake, go ahead and shake your head at me. I only had a set time for blogging and had to admit defeat! Here are some fresh confessions to make you ponder this Monday (or just laugh at me, really it's ok…)

1. I confess I waited a while to share our baby news with my internet friends. I was letting it all soak in in "real life" first and sharing the news in person, or letting my kids share the news in person which they are quite excited about. I have been feeling well and thankfully keeping up with workouts, although a bit more modified at this point. I don't know why this pregnancy has been so different for me (I was sick with the others), but I am thankful to be in good health! We are looking forward to baby boy joining our family in late July. We don't have any names yet so suggest away if you have a good one :) 

2. When I went to hear Glennon Melton speak a month or so ago, she said some things that have been sitting on my heart a little. At one point she talked a little about doing something in your life that's just about you. When you're a wife, a mother, a friend, a daughter and other things, your own spirit can kind of be put to the back burner. She gave a personal example of time for her sitting on the beach, it's just about her. She asked us to ask ourselves, what makes us feel alive? What makes us feel inspired? I have to say, photography still inspires me BUT it's been so long since I was shooting a personal project. Not that I don't love wedding days, sweet baby toes or family photos….it's not that at all. I adore being a photographer and am so thankful that day in my college advisors office I filled out that paper work to change over to an art major from an elementary ed major (Yes, laugh away. I thought I could inspire young minds and manage 26 minions in a classroom). I digress…anyway, it has really struck me to pick up my camera and get after some personal work. By my estimations I have about 18 weeks until I have newborn in my house so I better get after doing some photography this spring and summer that's just about me! 

3. I spend my Tuesday nights waiting to watch Fixer Upper on HGTV - I have a girl crush on JoAnna Gaines and who wouldn't?! I think Chip is a combination of hilarious, obnoxious and charming, which works for him. I honestly want every outfit JoAnna wears and would love her to come rescue my not-so-styled house. I secretly also take encouragement from any mama that's still forming full sentences and looks put together while raising 4 youngins.

4. I am usually one to switch around book genres or at least authors when going from book to book, but I just did a double with Shauna Niequist.  I read Bittersweet and then I just finished Bread and Wine.  I really like her down to earth spirit and writing style. Bittersweet had so many good thoughts on life….

"Bittersweet is the idea that in all things there is both something broken and something beautiful, that there is a sliver of lightness on even the darkest of nights, a shadow of hope in every heartbreak, and that rejoicing is no less rich when it contains a splinter of sadness." 

I also loved Bread and Wine  for it's encouragement to both get into the kitchen and practice hospitality around the table. I am definitely excited to try some recipes from the book! I have to say that I love to cook but some things in the kitchen definitely intimidate me. I had a real life fear of peeling and chopping garlic cloves. Well, I conquered that fear last week and felt victorious :) I know, it's the small attempts in life right?!

5.  I confess I made sloppy joes last week with turkey and no one complained! I complimented that with a delish whole wheat pasta salad and everyone loved that too! It just goes to show that some healthier substitutions aren't a negative thing! Trust me, we are far off from "all clean" or "organic" but I am trying so hard to move us slowly in a healthier direction for the long run. It's definitely a marathon and not a sprint. Making those slow changes are usually the ones that last longer anyway :) This weekend was full of way too many treats and indulgences so I am getting back after it today!

6. I can't believe Easter is only a couple weeks away! There's a great daily reading challenge going on over at SheReadsTruth if you want to hop in!

Here's to a great Monday! And remember, if it's not a great Monday, God still loves you!

Sweet Newborn on a Snow Day!

        Well I missed my usual Monday Confessions post, forgive me! Our schedule has been all over the place with weather, school cancellations, and spring break starting today for the twins. Yes, I sense the irony of spring break starting in the middle of a blizzard! This season is definitely teaching me a bit about embracing the change and trying to roll with it. One thing I had time for was to catch up with a dear friend and her sweet newborn! He was just 6 days new in these photos and yes, he was a nine pounder! He's got the sweetest cheeks and lips! If this doesn't warm your heart today, I don't know what will :)  

(I would like to say that this "session" occurred amidst a play date with 3 preschool age kids and a toddler running all around, taking photos over my shoulder, hugging the baby, etc all while trying to photograph him for a minute. Rolling with it, right?! :) 

Monday Confessions, In the Deep Freeze!

     If you are anywhere in the North East part of the USA, you are thanking your lucky stars for heat! Yesterday it was colder in my home state of DE than it was in Anchorage, AK. What's wrong with this picture?! I will honestly take it if means a chance for a snow day with my kiddos! They are forecasting a storm tonight, but we will see if it pans out. We have been burned a bit this year on inaccurate forecasts!  It's time to confess…

 1.    Have you ever had a dream that makes you so unsettled or upset that you wake up and feel like it might have been real?! I have been known to have a nightmare or strange dream after watching things like Zombies with my hubs on Sunday night. Last nights nightmare though was only a bad dream a mom can understand. In my dream, I had dropped Max off at preschool and only had a certain amount of time to grocery shop. I had been going through the store, aisle by aisle and filling my cart. I was almost to the end of the store and doing my final produce shopping when the unthinkable happened….someone stole my full cart!! I panicked and walked all around looking for it. I was suspiciously eyeing up everyone who I thought was a potential cart thief. I even begun to sob heavily until an employee asked me what happened. I told her of the cart theft and she said "Oh that hasn't happened to you before?! You need to be careful with your cart!" I cried harder knowing I did not have time to go back through the store and start over again with my preschool time constraints. I finally admitted defeat and left the grocery store in tears. Yes my friends, that's the stuff mom nightmares are made of! We COVET that time we can do errands alone and when something doesn't add up or throws us off, it can be devastating. (Feel free to laugh, but it was about as upsetting as being chased by a bad guy in a dream!) 

2.   If you don't follow Jen Hatmaker on social media, do yourself a favor and follow her. Her status updates have been a great source of humor and laughter for me today. She on occasion has some great book suggestions as well. 

3.   I am currently reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It took me a bit to get into with it being written in the form of letters back and forth. I am about half way through now and have been told by a few friends that it's worth sticking it out! I will let you know what I think when I am done! What's been your favorite read lately?

4.   I also put in a request at the library for the first season of the show Parenthood. I have heard SO much about it lately and know it was a lot of people's favorite. I have heard it has a lot of real life situations but I am looking forward to checking it out. Did you watch it? Did you love it?

5.  January and February are usually quiet in photography world and it has been no exception for me lately. It's between wedding season and the lack of nice weather puts a literal damper on things. I hope to be sharing more photography related posts as I get caught up on blogging and as we head into spring! If you are looking to do a spring session, contact me now! I am currently taking wedding inquiries for the fall of 2015. Email emily@emilytroutmanphoto.com for scheduling and availability. 

6.  I have been posting about getting Les Mills Pump workouts for home and getting lots of questions. If you have been to a Pump class and loved it, this is your chance to get it on sale and have the freedom to do it at home! (Head to my team beach body page   and click "shop" then fitness programs") It's currently 40% off but with limited quantities left! You get A LOT for the money. I have been loving my at home Pump workouts, with the workouts ranging from 20 mins to an hour depending on what time you have. 

7. Super excited to be going to hear Glennon Melton speak from Momastery this upcoming weekend! Although I don't claim to agree with all of her view points, I absolutely adore her spirit and motto "we can do hard things." I think she is a voice of acceptance in a world that's usually too quick to be harsh! Her book Carry on Warrior was laugh out loud funny and such an encouragement to my mama heart! 

8. I confess that during the writing of this blog post this morning, I have helped kids in the potty, refereed fights, fixed lego creations, and had compelling conversations about why you can not run around naked, especially because it's about 4 degrees outside! Keeping it real my friends, it's Monday confessions after all!!

Carry on Warriors… It's only 9am :) 

Monday Confessions, On turning 33

       Well it's another winter week with a snow let down! We thought we would have a storm today but it looks more like rain :) I have been wishing for at least one big storm for the kids to get to have a snow day! Growing up with a February birthday in the North East often meant birthday parties canceled or rescheduled due to snow storms. I have to say though, I still love the snow!  I know that having a birthday is always a blessing. Turning another year and new chapter is a great part of life, but sometimes those gray hairs will drag you down! SO here goes confessions…

1. I took a Facebook break over the weekend. I think (like many people), I have let too much of the social media information fill up my brain and heart when it's just not necessary. I also think we can tend to underestimate how much time we spend scrolling on our phones as opposed to living in the moment. I know I have talked about this before but I think it's going to be an ongoing battle living in this era. It was nice for me to see that I wasn't missing "urgent" things and could really take a two day break without issues. I was challenged by another mom that posted she has "phone free time" from 3 - 8 pm, where she just docks it and checks it later. Thoughts on this?

2. I had heard little bits about IF:Gathering going on in Austin, TX over the weekend. I was SO blessed to be able to tune into a couple of the sessions that were recorded. In the nice absence of social media, it was great to instead use technology to fill my soul with some wisdom. So far some of the best talks I listened to were by Jen Hatmaker and Shelley Giglio. I only got to a couple sessions but I am waiting to see if they will release download options for the sessions I didn't see (looks like everything is not available to watch anymore as of this morning). It's definitely worth the investment!

3. Zombie fans…I was so disappointed in last night's The Walking Dead episode. I felt like the show had more commercials than the super bowl and they killed off another central character! (I won't spoil anything)….but I just don't know if I will hang in there with this show. My hubby loves it so I try to bond with him over it, but it' just too much for me sometimes. It definitely went from bad to worse. 

4. My friends that love FREE and Chick Fila in the same sentence?! There's FREE COFFEE all month long at your local Chick Fila :) You're welcome!

5. Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I confess…I am going straight up store bought for my kiddos! They are loving their Disney Fairies and Star Wars Valentines to write to their classmates. I don't need the Pinterest Pressure to go whipping up some creation that I will regret and other moms will eventually throw out. It's OK to buy Valentines in the grocery store!!! xoxoxo

Here's to a great week my friends! 

Monday Confessions, MLK Day

      A soggy, icy Monday is starting off the week here on the East Coast. If it's sunny and warm where you are, keep quiet ;) It's officially Martin Luther King Jr. Day as well, which always gives me pause and causes me to think a bit on America. MLK brought so many injustices to the forefront and worked diligently to bring about justice. 

     As it turns out, I have been thinking A LOT about America over the last week with both the reading and viewing of American Sniper, the story of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. I am truly having a hard time filtering through all the things that his story has made me feel and think. My husband has followed his story for a longer period and had been telling me bits and pieces over time. At first I was just saddened that someone who served our country so faithfully was so senselessly killed. Now after reading his book, the story has so many more layers. I loved reading his book first because it was written from his view and in his voice. Nothing is sugar coated about war or the toll it can take on you. I think this something EVERY American should be exposed to. We like to keep our heads in the sand and pretend nothing is happening, when in reality we have had troops in the Middle East consistently since 2003, which is 12 years! If you are around my age, you remember being in elementary school during the first Iraq invasion in the early 90's. This is not a new scenario to most Americans, but have we become callus to it? I dare say we have. 

    I think that being exposed to Chris's story has not only deepened my respect for U.S. veterans but it has also caused me to think of ways to get involved. I am not sure yet how that will even look but I feel as though we can't just push these men and women aside. I think it also reminded me that America is worth fighting for. America is still an amazing nation (whether or not you agree with any of the current powers that be). I think that leads to another point, which is that troops are simply following orders and doing their jobs. If you disagree with troops being involved, contact your congressmen, don't take it out on military personnel. 

    I also think that this story has peeled back a layer for me on the extremist terrorist movements. I do read a lot of books and have read some fascinating insights before, but Chris's version was face to face with downright evil. Men hiding behind their daughters to not get shot or putting grenades in the hands of their children should not be how people live! This world has much evil and although we much rather would ignore it, it's a reality. When I get overwhelmed at the thoughts, I turn to my faith. Although it seems out of control, God knows what's going on in every corner of this crazy planet. Chris even questioned, “Isn’t religion supposed to teach tolerance?”

   If this post rambled, I apologize. It's hard to put all those thoughts and feelings into linear thinking. I do think it's appropriately tied into MLK day, because we all have dreams for America. We want Americans to stand together and in light of SO MANY recent events in the USA which point out racial or economic divides, we need to find ways to persevere together. We need the encouragements of Dr. King today just as much as we did in the 1960's. 

"Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty."  - From Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech 

We also need the words of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle to remind us what the military is defending, 

"I’ve lived the literal meaning of the “land of the free” and “home of the brave.” It’s not corny for me. I feel it in my heart. I feel it in my chest.

So on this chilly Monday in January, maybe you can contemplate how you've been an active part of our country lately. Are there ways to serve some in your community or state? Are there ways you want to meaningfully bridge a gap between yourself and someone different than you? I think this is something we all should give some thought today. 

Have a wonderful week!

Monday Confessions, Welcome to January

      A mid-January freezing rain Monday, lovely right? Well I am thankful for fresh beginnings every week, even if they come in the form of a Monday! My kiddos are enjoying a slow morning with a one hour delay :) So since it is indeed Monday, I have a few things to confess…

1. I confess I have been rocking out in my mini van to both the Sam Smith In The Lonely Hour and  1989 albums! Should I be proud or embarrassed that my 5 year olds can sing "Shake it off?" I just have to say, sometimes you need some music with some soul and some fun! I believe both albums have been on top this year and for good reason! Go Give them a listen! (They help with the winter blues!)

2. Speaking of winter blues, I think part of it comes when all the Christmas goes away and we are left with bleak, cold January! Is it too soon to bust out the Valentines hearts to warm up the place?! I am thinking of doing some decorating with hearts later today! If you need some crafty ideas, I love both the Idea Room or Eighteen25 Blog. 

3. Serial Podcast…have you been listening? I got introduced to this a little over a week ago from a few different friends either talking or posting about it. Without giving too much away, it's 12 different episodes of the investigation into a murder. Basically, it seems as though the guy that was put away for the murder, may or may not be the right guy. I just finished episode three and it's definitely making me think. It's good to listen if you have a commute or can listen to something while working. It will keep your wheels turning! I will let you know when I am done if I am definitely a fan. 

4. I just finished reading the book In Between  by Jenny B. Jones and it was a sweet story about a foster girl learning to trust and be trusted. There was a faith element woven in, which I appreciated. It was a quick, easy read for me but a nice departure from anything heavy. Best part, it's free still right now to download if you have a kindle! It's the beginning of a series, so if you love it, you can keep reading into Katie's life and adventures. 

5. I had a funny memory the other day that just struck me. It will totally date me as to how old I am about to turn on my upcoming birthday…..but, who remembers calling into the weather line forecast service on the phone?! I used to call it at night in high school to plan for the next day and we didn't have cell phones with instant weather forecasts. Our dial up internet was so slow that wasn't worth trying to get the weather on either and who had time to turn on the news in the morning?! It cracked me up to think of this. My husband said Surfline used to be a phone number too. What other things from the late 90's like this do you remember? (Remember what is was like to actually have to memorize people's phone numbers?!)

6. I need to share a "fitness fail" moment because I think sometimes people think I just have it together in that department and it's never hard to work around my kids. Well my kiddos take a dance class on Saturday mornings in a studio next to a gym I can workout in. My husband actually gave me the idea to drop the twins off at class and go run on the treadmill while the kids took class for half an hour. This was a genius plan in my book that both got my workout in and allowed kids to get to class. Not to mention, I think the high on Saturday was 25 degrees and was WAY too cold to even think about running outside. Thankfully there is another mom friend that stuck close and I told her to just call if she needed me. Well I got over to the gym, got rolling on my treadmill and a half a mile in (only 5 minutes of actual running), I get a text I need to come back to help  my unnamed child help with a potty emergency. I wanted to both laugh and say dirty words. Sometimes it feels like kids want to sabotage anything that you deem as "me time" or things you try to do for yourself. I guess it was a honest picture of both my selfish heart and the needs of a child. Once we dealt with the potty issue and change of clothing, the child went back to class and I just gave up. Yes, I gave up. I didn't want to walk back over to the gym to only run for 10 more minutes. I mean I was already embarrassed that I had gotten on a treadmill next to a younger girl (the one on the far left wasn't turned on and I didn't know how… see how truly uncool I am?!!) and had to straight up leave the gym after running for 5 minutes. Who runs for 5 minutes and leaves?! Like, "hey that half mile was really a great workout….burned 100 calories son!" No way….so that's my encouragement. I would not suggest giving up like I did, but sometimes things just don't work out. You have to go with plan B or plan Z…whatever you are on at that point. Moms that want to get healthy, it's thankfully a fresh start every morning and you can try again :) 

I will leave you with Grumpy Cat for a smile today…

Monday Confessions, Back in Action!

   Hello friends on the interwebs! It is 2015 and I am back at the blog :) I am sorry for my blog absence! It was quite the holiday season with some illness thrown in there for good measure. The great news is that all are healthy again at my house (for now) and the kids went back to school today! I still have my littlest guy hanging around until preschool pics up again next week. I have to say, I am thankful for routine! I definitely feel a little like this today :)

  Funny thing is that usually December is quiet for photographers or at least mine have been sporadic for business in the past. This year, that was not the case! I am so thankful to have had a wedding, a few different family sessions, and a newborn session all over the last two weeks. With that being said, thank you to all my patient clients waiting on me in the holiday hubbub to get their galleries up! As for things to confess today….

1.   I confess that in November I read Jen Hatmaker's book "7" and it has been messing with me. It gave me so much to think about, especially in the holiday season of excess. I admit, I have not yet done anything drastic but am slowly mulling over how to live in a more simple way, with less excess. (This is hysterical because if you would've stopped by my house yesterday as we were attempting to do some room trading among our kids….you would've had to dig through mountains of their stuff to find any of us. That brings me to my point exactly, we need to simplify a little!) I definitely recommend the book if you need a thought provoking start to the new year!

2.  I got to see the movie version of Unbroken on New Year's eve with the hubs. I have to say, Unbroken, is one of my all time favorite books/stories. It's a beautiful and amazing story of both survival and redemption. I was curious to see how Angelina Jolie would handle the story for the film. I did "enjoy" the movie as much as you can enjoy watching anyone suffer like Louie did. I am thankful for men like him who survived to share their stories. I was a little bummed though that they didn't focus more on him finding faith in Christ, and that truly rescuing him out of his despair. Still though, an amazing book and well done film!

3. I confess, with sickness and crazy schedules, my workouts have not been what I wanted them to be. I had fallen from my usual 5 to 6 days a week workouts to about 3. I am feeling it and need to get back at it! Are you ready for a change? I am forming a challenge group now and can make suggestions on a plan and nutrition that will get you results! Email me if you're interested in one of my challenge groups this year. emily@emilytroutmanphoto.com 

4. For you Keurig lovers, what are you favorite K-cups out there? I always inevitably have a small stash of ones I didn't love. I need some ideas :) Of course, Dunkin Donuts K-cups always hit the spot! 

5. Part of a new year for a lot of people is setting goals. I am thinking over a few things I would like to do or be in the new year. One thing I want to be more consistent in is my spiritual disciplines. Do you need a reading plan or some encouragement? I personally love She Reads Truth online with daily reading plans and devotions. It's a great way, wherever you find yourself (sometimes it's even in the kids carline at school) to take a minute and reflect. 

6. Another devotion I love is Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon. It's a little dated language but it's so powerful and thought provoking, I love it. It has a morning and evening reading for every day of the year. 

7. Who watched Downton Abbey season 5 premiere last night?! You know I did. I confess though that I have already watched the entire season online (I know, I know….I couldn't resist) but I am going to watch it again as it's on tv here. It was an action packed start to the season! I won't spoil it for those of you waiting to watch online. As always the Dowager Countess doesn't disappoint with her witty one liners. "Principles are like prayers…noble, but awkward at a party!" 

8. What's been your favorite book you've read lately? I am making a list of what to read in 2015! 

9. I got some wonderful Christmas gifts. I have been excited about a lot of the but super excited to put on some of my new workout gear from Cross Training Couture and go get in a workout! (There I said it, I have to go do it ;) 

Here's a snapshot of my ever growing kiddos on Christmas morning!

Christmas morning 2014

Hope you all have a wonderful week ahead!